Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Elusive Butterfly

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I date myself by using this post title. Does anyone else remember that song, sung by Bob Lind (I had to look it up) and released in 1966? I wasn’t a big fan, but I do remember it clearly.

Anyway, during the past few days, I’ve been looking for elusive butterflies around the property. You remember the huge Eastern Tiger Swallowtail that I sort of missed out on because I had Scout on the leash and no camera? Yesterday, I saw two Swallowtails.

swallowtail black

The swallowtail in black – his wings were fluttering so quickly that I could only grab a quick shot. You can see the amazing colors near the bottom of his wings. One of the wings was torn, but it didn’t seem to be slowing him down.

swallowtail full

This one, on the other hand, stayed still long enough for me to click the shutter on the camera. Isn’t she beautiful? She’s not the same one I saw the other day. That swallowtail had blue markings at the bottom of her wings. This one looks to have a little wing damage on the right.

swallowtail two

It must be this elusiveness, coupled with sheer beauty, that makes butterflies so fascinating. Flitting here, there, and then, before you can snap your fingers, soaring above the bushes and the trees and…gone.

I can’t tell you how many times this week that I’ve seen one and run into the house for the camera. Even Don is trained. He was coming out the door to go to the car yesterday. I was trying to snap these pictures. I held up one hand and he froze in place until I was done.

If only Scout minded so well.

And how about this guy?

W - green critter

He was on the outside of the bathroom window. He was rather long – about 3 or 4 inches – and he hung out there for quite a long time.

Amazing.

I’m off to the Apple Store to have the Genius Bar take a look at my computer. I’m pretty sure I know what’s wrong. I only hope it doesn’t cost too much! Have to have my laptop or this blog won’t get written. Cross your fingers for me. I’m hoping I can hang out while they fix it and that I don’t have to leave it overnight.

Forgot to add: new post up on Just Let Me Finish This Page.

Happy Friday.

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Flora and Fauna Edition

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Yesterday, I was walking Scoutie on the property. As I headed around the corner of the porch, I saw the most gorgeous Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. He was on one of the blooms on the butterfly bush, wings fully spread, quite still.

No camera.

So I tried to hurry Scout along as best I could so I could get her back in the house and grab my camera. I managed to get back there with the camera, but the butterfly had changed positions. He moved around a lot more and I could never quite capture that stillness he had when I first saw him. I think he sensed my presence.

swallowtail 1

I followed him around the property. Here he is on the phlox. But the images are a bit blurry because his wings were moving. This will give you an idea of his size and his beauty.

swallowtail 2

I rather like this photo. Wings in Motion.

But oh, if I had the camera with me when I was walking Scout, what a picture that would have made!

hummingbirdmoth 1

Then there’s my pal, the Hummingbird Moth. He’s everywhere: the phlox, the butterfly bush, the hanging plants. He moves very quickly.

hummingbirdmoth 2

This morning I opened the door to let Scout out and thought I saw something, but couldn’t be sure.

I grabbed my camera.

first morning glory

I was shocked. The morning glories have been growing very slowly this year. Some of the shoots haven’t even reached the fence yet and the vines have yet to really take off. I didn’t expect anything out of it until at least the end of the month.

So this was a delightful surprise!

first morning glory 2

August 12, 2014: The first morning glory bloom of the season.

And you know I love my morning glories.

We’re due for rain today and tomorrow. We really need it as it’s been very dry here lately. But I hope it holds off for a while so I can try to find that darn butterfly again!

On another note.

I’m heartbroken by the tragic death of Robin Williams. His talent and heart were enormous. Many of you have either struggled with depression or watched someone you love struggle with it. It is very, very real. I’ve lost friends to suicide, friends who saw no way out, who couldn’t summon another possibility in that one moment in time. To try and understand the death-grip of depression from a rational point of view is pointless. All rationality goes out the window. What is needed is compassion. I pray that those who suffer from depression and who feel lost will reach out for help. We need to erase the stigma that surrounds depression. It’s an illness. As is addiction.

Such, such sadness this morning.

Happy Tuesday.

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Gravity, Leaves and Butterflies

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Yesterday, on a whim, we went to the movies. We never go out to the movies; it’s usually too expensive for us. But we wanted to see Gravity in 3D and the matinees at our local movie theater are pretty reasonably priced.

watermark3dwe

3D glasses? Check.

Oh my goodness, if you can go see Gravity, do! It is an amazing film and should be seen on the big screen, preferably in 3D. I don’t know if I’d ever seen a movie in 3D before this; if I did, it was long ago. We were on the edge of our seats throughout the movie – it’s truly incredible. Sandra Bullock is wonderful, as is George Clooney. But Bullock dominates, simply because she is most every frame of the movie. Go. You’ll love it.

Another round of raking awaited us when we arrived back at the cottage. Scoutie came out and joined us as we raked up piles of leaves and moved them on to our trusty tarp and hauled them up to the woods. Scout, by the way, is completely back to normal. She’s eating well, loping down the corral hill, barking when she wants something, pouncing, spinning, and being her silly self. We are so grateful.

While I was up in the back forty, I noticed that the milkweed pods had burst open:

milkweed

Each burst pod is unique and sort of magical. Go ahead, spread those seeds! We want more here because they bring little wonders like this one, who made an appearance yesterday.

monarch2

monarch3

monarch4

monarch5

monarch6

monarch1

You must be patient when trying to take pictures of a Monarch Butterfly. You have to move stealthily; better yet, stay still and hold your breath. If it senses your presence, off it will fly, swooping, circling, soaring. That in itself is a beautiful sight to behold. But when it lands on a zinnia and decides to hang around for a while, well, that is simply a wondrous gift from Mother Nature.

Happy Monday.

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